KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Petaling and Klang districts remain among Selangor’s dengue hotspots, said state executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin, as the government ramps up preventive measures following a worrying rise in cases.
Speaking to Media Selangor, she said the recent surge in infections is partly due to weather changes and the emergence of a new, more easily spread dengue variant.
“There has been an increase in cases as we have entered a different season, and the new variant has contributed to wider transmission,” she said after officiating the Kempen Bumi 2026 awards ceremony at MAHSA Avenue here today.
On July 10, the Health Ministry (MOH) reported that Selangor still accounts for the most dengue cases, with 19,313 infections from January to July 9, an increase of 43.2 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The state also logged 21 dengue-related deaths, up from five fatalities during the corresponding period in 2025.
In June, Jamaliah said the emergence of the dominant DEN-3 subvariant is among potential factors for the rise in cases this year, with lower community immunity against the serotype contributing to higher infection rates.
To address the issue, Jamaliah said the Selangor government has allocated nearly RM4 million this year for awareness programmes, community cleanups, and local authority initiatives.
Although dengue control falls under federal jurisdiction, she said the Selangor government continues to support national efforts through state-funded initiatives.
“The (RM4 million) allocation is being used to organise community cleanups, awareness campaigns, and provide funding to local authorities so they can carry out clean-up and public education activities with residents.”
Jamaliah said the state’s awareness campaign now also encourages residents to seek immediate medical treatment if they experience dengue symptoms, particularly those in high-risk groups.
She said early detection and prompt medical treatment are crucial in reducing severe dengue cases and preventing deaths.
“Some patients delay (seeing a doctor) because they underestimate their symptoms, allowing their condition to worsen and, in some cases, leading to death.
“We want to ensure no lives are lost because of dengue. One of the most important messages we want to deliver is that people should never take dengue symptoms lightly.
“If you develop symptoms, you should seek treatment as soon as possible,” Jamaliah cautioned.
